THE EAST Cheshire Hospice has announced that vital beds for the terminally ill could be saved thanks to fundraisers in Macclesfield.

The cash-strapped Macclesfield Hospice faced a funding crisis last May when four out of the 15 beds were closed with more threatened.

Terminally ill patients had to be turned away and even more cuts looked imminent.

But news of the plight in the Macclesfield Express launched a borough-wide appeal and now, after a doubling of donations compared to last year, bosses at the centre hope to restore capacity to its original level.

Kind-hearted people, young and old, rallied around to raise much-needed funds for the charity and to show their support.

Teenage pals Beth Rumsey and Carol-Ann Evans showed their support for the Hospice by raising £300 after holding a garage sale, a sponsored walk and a dance show.

Beth, 13, of Robin Lane, Lyme Green, said: "My uncle Harry died from cancer and I just thought it would be a nice idea to raise money for the Hospice because of my experiences.

"The garage sale and the walk had to be planned about two weeks in advance. It was great fun and we will definitely do something like this again.

"We are very proud of ourselves, it was for a very good cause."

Other fundraising events have included: a 70s and 80s night at the Redway Tavern which raised a total of £1,297; a coast-to-coast walk by Prestbury postman Lion Larry Heard MBE and his wife Norma who raised more than £3,000, and a tower of 50p coins organised by the president of the Chamber of Trade Mervyn Lovatt which resulted in more than £1,000 being donated to the Hospice.

Mark Stickley, chief fundraiser, said: "The turnaround has been amazing and we are now confident that if this continues we will re-open the four beds in March 2003. The amount donated over April, May and June has doubled from the previous year.

"A lot of this change can be attributed to the people of Macclesfield and the Express campaign. I would like to ask everyone to keep it up though because for the beds to reopen we have to maintain and even improve this current situation."

The East Cheshire Hospice will launch a massive fundraising campaign in September and aim to raise an extra £500,000 by April.

Anyone who wants to support the campaign or donate can write to Mark Stickley, East Cheshire Hospice, Mill Bank Drive, Macclesfield, SK10 3DR, or call on 01625 612618.